After laying on of hands, there is a prayer offered, depending on the oil used.

122. In silence the priest lays his hands on the head of the sick person.

If already blessed by the bishop at the Chrism Mass, a thanksgiving with acclamations is used (PCS 123a). A priest may bless olive or another plant oil for this anointing only, in which case he uses a trinitarian blessing (PCS 123b). Alternate and shorter prayers are offered in PCS 140 and 248.

123. The priest says a prayer of thanksgiving over the blessed oil or he may bless the oil himself (see no. 21), using one of the following:

Thanksgiving over Blessed Oil–If the oil is already blessed, the priest says the following prayer of thanksgiving over it:

Praise to you, God, the almighty Father. You sent your son to live among us and bring us salvation.

All: Blessed be God who heals us in Christ.

Praise to you, God the only-begotten Son. You humbled yourself to share in our humanity and you heal our infirmities,

All: Blessed be God who heals us in Christ.

Praise to you God, the Holy Spirit, the Consoler. Your unfailing power gives us strength in our bodily weakness.

All: Blessed be God who heals us in Christ.

God of mercy, ease the sufferings and comfort the weakness of your servant, N., whom the Church anoints with this holy oil. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

Blessing of Oil–When the priest blesses the oil during the rite, he uses the following blessing:

Let us pray.

God of all consolation, you chose and sent your Son to heal the world. Graciously listen to our prayer of faith: send the power of the Holy Spirit, the Consoler, into this precious oil, this soothing ointment, this rich gift, this fruit of the earth.

Bless this oil + and sanctify it for our use.

Make this oil a remedy for all who are anointed with it; heal them in body, in soul, and in spirit, and deliver them from every affliction.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

All: Amen.

Commentary:

The thanksgiving prayer seems right for a musical setting, especially when the rite is celebrated in a church. The blessing prayer affirms the theology of anointing as a trinitarian rite. The occasional practical need for a priest blessing oil is conceded. Priests are not licitly able to bless oil to store for later anointings.

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Todd lives in the Pacific Northwest, serving a Catholic parish as a lay minister.